Controlling order of learner interactions

May 12, 2013

Lil Monk
By Lil Monk

Hi

I've created a slide with a flow diagram interaction. The learner can click on buttons on each step of the diagram to view explanatory notes presented on different layers. I've created triggers with 'visited' states to prevent the learner from clicking the steps out of order. When each button is clicked, the layer that is viewed shows all clicked buttons as another colour so they know where they are in the diagram.

Problem 1:

As the triggers I've used are only controlled by whether a button has been previously clicked, not whether a layer has actually been viewed, it is still possible for a learner to go through the steps out of order. Is there a way of controlling things by what the learner has actually viewed? i.e. the layers?

Problem 2:

At the end of the flow diagram I have two steps branching out from one step - that is, one step goes one way, the other goes the other way. Really, the learner should be able to click either one of these steps first, however I only know how to control what they see in a linear direction. Is there a way for me to control things so that they are able to click either button first and view the appropriate information? At present, if they click one of the buttons first, then only that button will show as shaded when clicked. They can only click the other button after the first one, and then both buttons will show as shaded. Corresponding layers for both buttons show different information.

I don't know if I've explained all of that well, but please help if you understood or ask for clarification.

Thank you!

4 Replies
Antony Snow
almost 11 years ago05/14/13 at 1:54 am (UTC)

Hi Jacinta and Rebcca,

As per the attached file, what Jacinta is trying to achieve can be done so by using states and triggers. To overcome problem 1, I have:

  • Created a 'disabled' state for steps 2, 3a and 3b and set this as the initial state - this will prevent the user from clicking on them out of sequence (if you preview my example, the user can only click on 'Step 1' initially)
  • Added a 'close' button to each layer and added a trigger to this that changes the state of the next button in sequence to 'normal' on when the user clicks it.
  • I have also added a condition that the state change to 'normal' only happens if the state of the next button in sequence is equal to 'disabled' - this will prevent the button from changing to its 'normal' state if the user wants to revisit it

For problem 2, I have:

  • Added 2 triggers to the 'close' button on the 'Step 2' layer that changes the state of the 'Step 3a' and the 'Step 3b' buttons to normal on condition that when the user clicks it
  • I have also added a condition that the state change to 'normal' only happens if the state of the next button in sequence is equal to 'disabled' - this will prevent the button from changing to its 'normal' state if the user wants to revisit it 
  • Added a 'visited' state to each of the steps to indicate when they have been viewed

I hope this helps (or at least gives you something to work from) but please feel free to post back if you have any questions.

Antony

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